Catherine J. McNeal

Bio: Catherine J. McNeal is an academic researcher from Scott & White Hospital. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mass spectrometry & Risk factor. The author has an hindex of 25, co-authored 93 publications receiving 2045 citations. Previous affiliations of Catherine J. McNeal include Temple University & Texas A&M Health Science Center.

Beneficial effects of l-arginine on reducing obesity: potential mechanisms and important implications for human health

Abstract: Over the past 20 years, growing interest in the biochemistry, nutrition, and pharmacology of L-arginine has led to extensive studies to explore its nutritional and therapeutic roles in treating and preventing human metabolic disorders. Emerging evidence shows that dietary L-arginine supplementation reduces adiposity in genetically obese rats, diet-induced obese rats, finishing pigs, and obese human subjects with Type-2 diabetes mellitus. The mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of L-arginine are likely complex, but ultimately involve altering the balance of energy intake and expenditure in favor of fat loss or reduced growth of white adipose tissue. Recent studies indicate that L-arginine supplementation stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and brown adipose tissue development possibly through the enhanced synthesis of cell-signaling molecules (e.g., nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, polyamines, cGMP, and cAMP) as well as the increased expression of genes that promote whole-body oxidation of energy substrates (e.g., glucose and fatty acids) Thus, L-arginine holds great promise as a safe and cost-effective nutrient to reduce adiposity, increase muscle mass, and improve the metabolic profile in animals and humans.

Lipoprotein(a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis: a European Atherosclerosis Society consensus statement

Abstract: Graphical Abstract Graphical abstract Key points from the 2022 Lp(a) consensus statement. Current evidence demonstrates a causal continuous association in different ethnicities between Lp(a) concentration and cardiovascular outcomes including aortic valve stenosis, but not for venous thrombotic events. A meta-analysis of prospective studies shows that very low Lp(a) levels are associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus. For clinical practice, Lp(a) should be measured at least once in adults and results interpreted in the context of a patient's absolute global cardiovascular risk, with recommendations on intensified early risk factor management by lifestyle modification. The statement also reviews currently available and future possibilities to specifically lower Lp(a).

The Cardiovascular Research Network: a new paradigm for cardiovascular quality and outcomes research

Abstract: Background— A clear need exists for a more systematic understanding of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular diseases More robust data are also needed on how well clinical trials are translated into contemporary community practice and the associated resource use, costs, and outcomes Methods and Results— The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recently established the Cardiovascular Research Network, which represents a new paradigm to evaluate the epidemiology, quality of care, and outcomes of cardiovascular disease and to conduct future clinical trials using a community-based model The network includes 15 geographically distributed health plans with dedicated research centers, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute representatives, and an external collaboration and advisory committee Cardiovascular research network sites bring complementary content and methodological expertise and a diverse population of ≈11 million individuals treated through various health care deliv

The Answer Is 17 Years, What Is the Question

Abstract: This study aimed to review the literature describing and quantifying time lags in the health research translation process. Papers were included in the review if they quantified time lags in the development of health interventions. The study identified 23 papers. Few were comparable as different studies use different measures, of different things, at different time points. We concluded that the current state of knowledge of time lags is of limited use to those responsible for R&D and knowledge transfer who face difficulties in knowing what they should or can do to reduce time lags. This effectively ‘blindfolds’ investment decisions and risks wasting effort. The study concludes that understanding lags first requires agreeing models, definitions and measures, which can be applied in practice. A second task would be to develop a process by which to gather these data.

Best Care at Lower Cost: The Path to Continuously Learning Health Care in America

Abstract: America's health care system has become too complex and costly to continue business as usual. Best Care at Lower Cost explains that inefficiencies, an overwhelming amount of data, and other economic and quality barriers hinder progress in improving health and threaten the nation's economic stability and global competitiveness. According to this report, the knowledge and tools exist to put the health system on the right course to achieve continuous improvement and better quality care at a lower cost.The costs of the system's current inefficiency underscore the urgent need for a systemwide transformation. About 30 percent of health spending in 2009--roughly $750 billion--was wasted on unnecessary services, excessive administrative costs, fraud, and other problems. Moreover, inefficiencies cause needless suffering. By one estimate, roughly 75,000 deaths might have been averted in 2005 if every state had delivered care at the quality level of the best performing state. This report states that the way health care providers currently train, practice, and learn new information cannot keep pace with the flood of research discoveries and technological advances.About 75 million Americans have more than one chronic condition, requiring coordination among multiple specialists and therapies, which can increase the potential for miscommunication, misdiagnosis, potentially conflicting interventions, and dangerous drug interactions. Best Care at Lower Cost emphasizes that a better use of data is a critical element of a continuously improving health system, such as mobile technologies and electronic health records that offer significant potential to capture and share health data better. In order for this to occur, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, IT developers, and standard-setting organizations should ensure that these systems are robust and interoperable. Clinicians and care organizations should fully adopt these technologies, and patients should be encouraged to use tools, such as personal health information portals, to actively engage in their care.This book is a call to action that will guide health care providers; administrators; caregivers; policy makers; health professionals; federal, state, and local government agencies; private and public health organizations; and educational institutions.

New developments in biochemical mass spectrometry: electrospray ionization

Abstract: The principles, development, and recent application of electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to biological compounds are reviewed. ESI-MS methods now allow determination of accurate molecular weights for proteins extending to over 50,000, and in some cases well over 100,000. Similar capabilities are being developed for oligonucleotides. The instrumentation used for ESI-MS is briefly described and it is shown that, although ionization efficiency appears to be uniformly high, detector sensitivity may be directly correlated with molecular weight. The use of tandem mass spectrometry (e.g., MS/MS) for extending collision-induced dissociation (CID) methods to the structural studies of large molecules is described. For example, effective CID of various albumin species (molecular weight approximately 66,000) can be obtained, far larger than obtainable for singly charged molecular ions. The combination of capillary electrophoresis, in both free solution zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis formats, as well as microcolumn liquid chromatography with ESI-MS, provides the capability for on-line separation and analysis of subpicomole quantities of proteins. These and other new developments related to ESI-MS are illustrated by a range of examples. Fundamental considerations suggest even more impressive developments may be anticipated related to detection sensitivity and methods for obtaining structural information.

A review of modern transition-metal nanoclusters: their synthesis, characterization, and applications in catalysis

Abstract: A literature review of modern transition-metal nanoclusters, with an emphasis on those nanoclusters which are catalytically active, is presented in two parts. Part One presents background information on transition-metal nanoclusters, including an overview of common synthetic routes, a description of how nanoclusters are stabilized, and a brief summary of the multiple characterization techniques used (and the type of information that they can provide). In Part Two, five specific nanocluster case studies are presented, case studies which compare and contrast the syntheses, characterization approaches, and catalytic applications of transition-metal nanoclusters.